Category Archives: Kansas

Bourbon County, Kansas

Bourbon County in a Drought Watch

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Governor Declares Drought Emergency, Warnings and Watches for Kansas Counties

The Governor’s Drought Response Team examines conditions; and recommends updates to the Governor

 

Effective June 27, Governor Laura Kelly has approved updated drought declarations for Kansas counties with Executive Order #22-06. This drought declaration places all 105 Kansas counties either in watch, warning or emergency status.

 

“A significant portion of the state of Kansas has experienced drought or abnormally dry conditions for the past several months,” said Governor Kelly. “Unfortunately, these conditions are forecast to persist or get worse, so I strongly encourage Kansans to be mindful of drought conditions while we work to minimize the threat of fires across the state.”

 

The drought declaration placed 34 counties into an emergency status, 8 counties in a warning status and 63 into a watch status. This action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. Although most of Kansas has experienced high precipitation this past month, a record-breaking heat wave has been making its way across the area. While most of eastern Kansas is currently drought free, the forecasted hot and dry conditions will likely lead to the rapid intensification of drought conditions in portions of the Midwest over the next few weeks.

 

“We have watched drought conditions in parts of the state continue to get worse since this past fall or longer in some areas, causing concern with groundwater supplies, crop production, elevated wildfire risk and more,” said Owen. “The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the situation and make recommendations to the Governor as necessary. As future outlooks call for hot and dry conditions to continue into July, the potential for a “flash drought” is likely.”

 

Through an interagency agreement between the Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Kansas Division of Emergency Management, counties in emergency stage are eligible for emergency use of water from certain state fishing lakes. These counties also become eligible for water in some Federal reservoirs.

 

Individuals and communities need to contact the Kansas Water Office for a water supply request prior to any withdrawals from lakes. These requests will in turn be referred to the appropriate office to obtain necessary permits to withdraw requested water.

 

This Executive Order shall remain in effect for those counties so identified until rescinded by Executive Order ending the declaration or revising the drought stage status of the affected counties.

 

Effective immediately, Executive Order #22-06:

 

  • Declares a Drought Emergency, Warning or Drought Watch for the counties as identified below;
  • Authorizes and directs all agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor to implement the appropriate

watch, warning or emergency level-drought response actions assigned in the Operations Plan of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

 

The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the effects drought has on Kansans.

 

For more detailed information about current conditions, visit the Climate and Drought webpage on the Kansas

Water Office website at kwo.ks.gov.

 

County Drought Stage Declarations:

 

Drought Emergency: Cheyenne, Clark, Comanche, Decatur, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Gove, Graham, Grant,

Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Norton,

Rawlins, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, Wichita.

 

Drought Warning: Barber, Ellis, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Rooks, Rush, Stafford.

 

Drought Watch: Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee,

Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Elk, Ellsworth, Franklin, Geary,

Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Jewell, Johnson, Kingman, Labette, Leavenworth, Lincoln,

Linn, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Osage,

Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Reno, Republic, Rice, Riley, Russell, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Smith,

Sumner, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson, Woodson, Wyandotte.

Business, Kansas

Give Opinion on Evergy’s Energy Effeciency Program Proposal

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Kansas Corporation Commission schedules public hearing and
comment period on Evergy’s energy efficiency program proposal

TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission invites Evergy customers to attend a virtual public hearing to learn more about the company’s proposed energy efficiency programs and share their feedback with Commissioners.

Evergy has filed an application with the KCC requesting approval of a portfolio of nine energy efficiency and demand-side management programs for residential and business customers (Docket No. 22-EKME-254-TAR). If approved, the programs would be in effect from 2023 through 2026.

The public hearing will take place online, via Zoom, on Monday, June 27, 2022, from 6 to 8 p.m. CT. To make a public comment at the hearing, attendees should register on the KCC website (https://kcc.ks.gov/your-opinion-matters) by noon June 27. For those who don’t plan to speak, no registration is necessary. The hearing will be broadcast live on the Commission’s YouTube channel and recorded for later viewing.

In addition to the hearing, the Commission will accept written comments about the programs through 5 p.m., July 8, 2022 on its website, by mail or by calling the KCC at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.

Government, Kansas

KS Bonuses For Child Care Providers

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Governor Laura Kelly Announces $53 Million in Appreciation Bonuses for Child Care Providers

~~Child Care Providers Will Receive $750 to $2,500 Per Person
as a Thanks for Their Hard Work~~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced that her administration is giving a total of $53 million to eligible child care staff at licensed facilities as a reward for their incredibly essential, hard work. The funds will be made available through Child Care Workforce Appreciation Bonuses that will soon be directly distributed to approximately 22,650 early childhood care staff members across Kansas. Individual bonus amounts will range from $750 to $2,500 per person.

“Early childhood development is the smartest investment a community can make. Early childhood education programs benefit our kids in the long-term, both in and out of the classroom, and they make it possible for parents to enter and participate in the workforce,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “That’s exactly why we’re making a total of $53 million available to nearly 23,000 child care providers throughout Kansas: We want to show our gratitude for all they do every single day.”

Eligible child care providers must be regularly working in a paid position at a licensed facility and have a minimum of six months continuous employment at their current employer or six months of combined continuous employment with a licensed provider. Home-based and relative providers may also qualify for the bonus program. There is also an opportunity for those who have worked less than six months at a licensed facility to receive a bonus. The Appreciation Bonus is a one-time payment that will begin in mid-to-late July and is funded through federal Child Care Development Funds.

Licensed facilities include child care centers, including all Head Start programs and preschools; school age programs; day care homes; and DCF relative providers.

“Working in child care is a calling, one that inspires and educates the minds of young Kansans, and plays an important role in strengthening Kansas families,” said Laura Howard, Secretary of Kansas Department for Children and Families. “We cannot say it enough — Thank you child care workers for everything you do for Kansas children!”

Child Care Aware of Kansas (CCAKS) will implement the program on behalf of the Kansas Department for Children and Families and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. All eligible child care workers will receive a letter in July outlining the process to accept the bonus and will have until Nov. 18 to act. CCAKS will offer educational webinars about the process as well. Learn more at www.ks.child careaware.org.

“Child care professionals are essential to a thriving Kansas economy, providing high-quality early care and education to young children while ensuring parents are able to work,” said Kelly Davydov, Executive Director of Child Care Aware of Kansas. “We’re grateful for their service to young children and families.”

The Child Care Workforce Appreciation Bonus program is one more way the Kelly Administration has supported child care providers to create real, sustainable change in child care in Kansas.

In total, the Kelly Administration has invested more than $272 million to support child care providers, including three rounds of Child Care Sustainability Grants to aid child care providers to meet the costs of operating their businesses through the remaining impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The third round of Child Care Sustainability Grants announced in March made more than $160 million available for child care businesses to use toward payroll expenses, costs of operations, and potential revenue losses. Rounds one and two of the Sustainability grants provided nearly $100 million in support to ensure child care centers and home-based providers were able to remain open.

HERO Relief Provider Funding assisted all open child care providers and related providers with funding supports during the immediate impact of COVID-19. More than $11 million was awarded to providers to assist with unexpected expenses related to the pandemic.

Governor Kelly also wrote a letter to licensed child care providers thanking them for their work and informing them of how to qualify for the bonus award. The letter is available here.

Government, Kansas

Minority/Women Enterprise Award Nominees Are Sought

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Nominations Open for Minority and Women Enterprise Development Awards

TOPEKA – Lieutenant Governor and Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland today announced the call for nominations for the 2022 Kansas Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Awards. The annual awards are just one way the Department of Commerce notes the growing impact minority- and women-led companies have on the entire state economy.

“Any time we have an opportunity to shine the light on all the amazing businesses and businesspeople in our great state is a win,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Taking the time to recognize minority- and women-owned businesses is key to our success in highlighting and showcasing our Kansas communities and the people who make them thrive.”

Presented by the Department of Commerce’s Office of Minority and Women Development, the awards are given to minority- and women-owned businesses in the following categories:

  • Construction
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional Service
  • Retail
  • Service
  • Supplier/Distributor
  • Young Entrepreneur
  • Business Advocate
  • Corporation of the Year

“We want to recognize minority- and women-owned businesses that are working hard to build their companies and at the same time contributing to their community as valuable resources,” Office of Minority and Women Business Development Director Rhonda Harris said. “This is a great time to say “Thank you” for everything that they do, and we appreciate their dedication and vision to make their community and Kansas a better place.

MED Week is celebrated nationally to recognize the more than 9.2 million minority business enterprises that support the U.S. economy and generate over $1.8 trillion in revenue. The significant economic impact of minority- and women-owned businesses translates into the creation and maintenance of jobs. These jobs not only sustain the individual worker, but contribute to the economic security of their families, and the economic vitality of their communities and of the nation.

The Department of Commerce will hold an annual luncheon in November to recognize the many winners and celebrate the contributions of women- and minority-owned businesses and communities across the state.

To learn more about the MED Week Awards, view past winners and nominate a business, including your own, click here. The nominations portal will accept nominations through July 13.

About the Kansas Department of Commerce

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas in 2021 was awarded Site Selection Magazine’s Governor’s Cup award, Area Development Magazine’s Gold Shovel award for two years in a row and was named Site Selection Magazine’s Best Business Climate in the West North Central region of the United States. Find the Department’s strategic plan for economic growth here: Kansas Framework for Growth.

Government, Kansas

Kansas Hits Lowest Unemployment Rate in Recorded History

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~~Continues Decline to 2.3% as Nation’s Unemployment Rate Holds Flat~~

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today celebrated that Kansas hit the lowest unemployment rate in the state’s recorded history, at 2.3%. Unemployment continues to decline in the state, even as the unemployment rate nationally holds flat. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Kansas has the sixth lowest unemployment rate in the country relative to other states.

“My Administration has worked to ensure that every Kansan who wants a job, can have a job,” said Governor Laura Kelly. “I’m proud that we have achieved the lowest unemployment rate in our state’s history at 2.3%, over a full percentage point below the nation’s unemployment rate. We will continue breaking economic records by prioritizing job creation, business investment, and workforce development.”

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.3% in May, a decrease from 2.4% in April and a decrease from 3.4% this time last year. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in the United States as a whole has remained at 3.6% for three consecutive months, a rate significantly higher than Kansas estimates.

Kansas began keeping records of monthly unemployment rates in January 1976.

Since the start of the Kelly Administration, Kansas has secured 654 economic development projects worth $8,943,214,898.00 in capital investment and has retained and created 43,111 jobs.
Government, Kansas

New Kansas Director of Native American Affairs

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Governor Laura Kelly Appoints Jancita Warrington as Executive Director of the
Office of Native American Affairs

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly today announced the appointment of Jancita Warrington as executive director of the Office of Native American Affairs. The Office of Native American Affairs serves as the liaison for the governor to ensure Native American voices are represented in state policymaking.

“Jancita joins my team with deep experience in promoting the preservation of Indigenous culture,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I appreciate her stepping into this role to help my Administration continue its work to strengthen state-tribal relations.”

Warrington is currently a cultural and research consultant and curriculum developer for the University of Kansas. She also advises independent programs and projects as they relate to tribal historical accounts and diversity. She is a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas where she earned Magna Cum Laude honors and a Master of Arts in Global Indigenous Nations Studies.

“I am honored to be appointed to the Office of Native American Affairs and to build upon the progress the Kelly Administration has made for state-tribal relations,” Executive Director Jancita Warrington said.

Jancita Warrington is of Potawatomi, Menominee, and Ho-Chunk descent.

Government, Kansas

Kansas Hemp Industry Meets July 19

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MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture will hold an in-person meeting with a focus on the industrial hemp industry in Kansas beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19. The stakeholder meeting will be held in the College Center Conference Room on the K-State Salina campus at 2310 Centennial Road in Salina.

The program will feature Kansas industrial hemp producers, processors and retailers. Additional speakers include representatives from K-State Research and Extension, Kansas Farm Bureau and KDA.

The KDA Agricultural Marketing, Advocacy and Outreach Team will host the event. Their mission is to serve all Kansans through innovative programming and delivering solutions designed to create an environment that facilitates growth and expansion in agriculture while increasing pride in and awareness of the state’s largest industry — agriculture.

The meeting is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, go to agriculture.ks.gov/BusinessDevelopment. For questions on the event, contact Dana Ladner at 785-564-6660 or [email protected].

Government, Kansas

Political signs not allowed on highway right of way

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Political signs not allowed on highway right of way
TOPEKA – It’s a sign of the season – political campaigning and the posting of campaign signs. The Kansas Department of Transportation reminds the public that all political campaign signs or billboards are prohibited from being placed on state right of way.

By law, all right of way on state highways is exclusively for public highway purposes. Only regulatory, guide signs and warning signs placed by KDOT are allowed on the 9,500-mile state highway system. KDOT has jurisdiction over all interstate, Kansas and U.S. routes.

When KDOT maintenance crews find political or business advertising on state right of way, the signs will be removed immediately and without notice. All such signs will then be taken to the closest KDOT Subarea office. Political campaign signs not retrieved from the Subarea offices will be disposed of after the election.

Political campaign advertising is allowed on private property bordering state right of way. However, people placing or erecting signs on private property must first obtain permission from the property owner.

A state law passed in 2015 related to placement of campaign signs on city- or county-owned right of way does not apply to state highway right of way. Persons placing signs on city street or county road right of way should consult the local jurisdiction on any rules.
Kansas

KS Recognition For Eco Devo

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Kansas Wins Prestigious Gold Shovel Award for Economic Development Excellence for Second Consecutive Year

TOPEKA – Kansas has won Area Development magazine’s coveted 2022 Gold Shovel Award, marking the second year in a row the state has received this national recognition for excellence in economic development.

“For the second year in a row, Kansas has been recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in job creation and business investment,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “There’s a reason why: Our track record of fully funding schools, investing in infrastructure, and expanding broadband access has resulted in more businesses choosing to call Kansas home.”

The annual award is given to states that attract high-value investment projects that create a significant number of new jobs in their communities. Only five states have been awarded the Gold Shovel for 2022. Since the start of Governor Kelly’s Administration, Kansas has received nearly $8.8 billion in new business investments, created and retained nearly 43,000 jobs, and been home to 645 new economic development projects.

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to help businesses and communities grow in Kansas. Commerce’s business recruitment team supported all business successes submitted for the Gold Shovel Award.

“Under Governor Kelly’s leadership, the Kansas economy has transformed into one of the most dominant states for economic development,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Our aggressive approach to bringing new, quality jobs and investment to the state has led to back-to-back years of record-breaking success. As a result, the world is taking notice.”

To strengthen these record-breaking efforts, Governor Kelly recently signed the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) bill into law. This bipartisan legislation provides an additional tool to help Kansas compete for some of the country’s most significant and transformational economic development projects. With modern, competitive economic development tools and a highly skilled workforce, Kansas will remain on track for new growth in the years to come.

The Kansas Department of Commerce worked with economic development organizations and partners across the state to select a sample of successful projects to submit for this award.

The top projects are:

Company Name Total Capital Investment City County New Jobs

Hilmar Cheese Company

$459,206,226

Dodge City

Ford

247

Bartlett Grain Company, LP

$322,750,000

Cherryvale

Montgomery

50

Hill’s Pet Nutrition

$251,500,000

Tonganoxie

Leavenworth

85

Summit Sustainable Ingredients, LLC

$251,386,056

Phillipsburg

Phillips

55

TriRx Pharmaceutical Services

$70,000,000

Shawnee

Johnson

250

Torch Research, LLC

$55,000,000

Leawood

Johnson

490

Charter Communications, Inc.

$18,919,072

Overland Park

Johnson

510

Netsmart Technologies

$11,435,000

Overland Park

Johnson

425

WellSky Corporation

$9,926,000

Overland Park

Johnson

593

MCI BPO

$1,500,000

Wichita

Sedgwick

500

###

Entertainment, Food, Government, Kansas

Enjoy Free Fishing Days – June 4-5, 2022

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PRATT – June 4 and 5 are Free Fishing Days in Kansas, when anyone can fish on any public waters without a fishing license.  The free weekend provides the perfect opportunity to introduce someone to the joys of angling; kind of a “try it before you buy it” opportunity.  In Kansas, anyone age 16-74 must have a fishing license to fish, except on Free Fishing Days, and although license requirements are waived, anglers must still abide by all other regulations such as length and creel limits,  and equipment requirements.

If you’re looking for a place to drop a line during Free Fishing Days, visit ksoutdoors.com/fishing and click “Where To Fish” for a list of fishing locations near you.

After you’ve found an ideal spot or two, consult the 2022 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary prior to hitting the water. The summary contains vital information specific to all public waters and even has some handy tips and tricks on tying knots and identifying fish. View an electronic version at ksoutdoors.com/fishing, or pick up a hard-copy at your nearest license vendor.

Kansas fishing regulations, forecasts, and more can also be accessed via the GoOutdoorsKS mobile app for iOS and Android. Visit https://ksoutdoors.com/License-Permits/KDWP-Mobile-Apps/ to download.

With the right location, a variety of baits to choose from, and some cooperative weather, Kansas fishing can be a blast. Give it a try; we can bet you’ll be hooked.

Business, Government, Kansas

Ks Helps Small Business Recovery

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Governor Laura Kelly Signs Bill Providing $50 Million of Financial Relief to Kansas
Small Businesses

 

TOPEKA –Surrounded by small business leaders in downtown Topeka, Governor Laura Kelly today signed bipartisan House Bill 2136, which will invest $50 million to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Providing $50 million of financial assistance for small businesses is just one more way my Administration is working to make Kansas the most pro-business state in the country,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The financial assistance legislation I signed today will support our entrepreneurs by ensuring they can make the investments they need to hire workers, strengthen their product lines, and better serve their communities.”

“Small businesses are what power our economy, and this legislation builds on years of work to ensure they have the resources they need to continue to serve customers and create jobs,” said Senator Tom Holland. “Through bipartisan collaboration, we will be able to continue to make sure that our economy continues to grow a strong base of businesses here in Kansas.”

Governor Kelly was joined at the bill signing by small business owners, the Greater Topeka Partnership, and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

“House Bill 2136 is a product of the many people who have shown unwavering commitment to Kansas small businesses,” Eric Stafford, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, said. “On behalf of the Kansas business community, thank you to Governor Kelly and the legislature for supporting this legislation. It will provide relief for the small businesses that make up the backbone of our state.”

More information about HB 2136 can be found here.

Government, Kansas

KS Unemployment Insurance Modernization

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Governor Laura Kelly Administration Formally Kicks Off Unemployment Insurance
System Modernization

~~Governor Kelly Sends Letter Urging U.S. Labor Secretary
to Provide Additional Federal Funding for Modernization~~ 

TOPEKA – Today, the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) formally kicked off a $48 million, 26-month-long effort to modernize the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) system. Governor Laura Kelly also built on her previous support for the project by sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh urging him to provide additional funding previously allocated by the U.S. Congress for modernization.

“My administration is working quickly to update our antiquated computer systems so Kansans who need unemployment benefits don’t experience the same problems they faced during the pandemic,” Governor Kelly said. “Congress promised to help states modernize their unemployment insurance systems and allocated the resources to get them started. Kansas upheld its end of the deal by investing millions of dollars in a new system. It’s now time for the U.S. Department of Labor to release these modernization funds to the states as Congress directed. It’s the only way to ensure we are prepared for the next economic downturn.”

Kansas’ current mainframe system used to process UI benefits was created in the 1970s. The last major push to modernize began under Governor Sebelius in 2005 but was subsequently abandoned in 2011 by the Brownback administration. That shortsighted decision directly led to the systemic inefficiencies and vulnerabilities that occurred within the state’s unemployment system during the pandemic. The effort to bring Kansas’ UI system into the 21st century will be led by information technology experts Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

“We have been looking forward to this day and to bringing everyone together to begin the formal process of developing a new, modernized unemployment system,” said Kansas Labor Secretary Amber Shultz. “TCS is a capable partner for KDOL to set a path for technology and process transformation that will enable the delivery of software that will be responsive to the future needs of the state.”

Upon completion, the KDOL’s new system will improve the experiences of unemployed Kansans and businesses that interact with the UI systems by:

  • Modernizing technology: Replace the agency’s antiquated IT legacy system that supports unemployment insurance taxes, payment of unemployment insurance benefits, and delivery of employment services.
  • Enhancing customer experience: Deliver improved services such as online self-service, automation, access to data, and integration with partners.
  • Transforming business processes: Provide improved efficiencies in business processes, offer new tools for KDOL employees, and support more effective service delivery to Kansans.
  • Improving data security: Better anticipate and respond to security threats and prevent unemployment insurance fraud.
  • Providing expandable technology: Deliver a system capable of supporting new programs and functionality, as well as connections to other systems like workforce tools.

A page has been created on the KDOL website to keep the public updated on the modernization project’s progress.  For the most recent information, visit www.dol.ks.gov/ui-modernization.

See a copy of Governor Kelly’s letter here.